CSPC: Elvis Presley Popularity Analysis

ELVIS PRESLEY CAREER CSPC RESULTS

So, after checking all the figures, how many overall equivalent album sales has each album by Elvis Presley achieved? Well, at this point we hardly need to add up all of the figures defined in this article!

In the following results table, all categories display figures in equivalent album sales. If different, pure sales are listed between parentheses.

artist_spotify_id	#	Cover	Album	Studio albums (EAS)	sales_update_date	Other LPs (EAS)	Physical singles (units sold)	Digital singles (units sold)	Streams	Streams increase	Total EAS	valid_as_of	streams_updated_value	album_id
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	1		Elvis Presley	1,510,000	01.09.18	5,359,000	612,000 (1,186,000)	86,000 (580,000)	270,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 110 LD: 120	7,837,000	20,230,529	270,000	678
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	2		Elvis	1,690,000	01.09.18	2,550,000	63,000 (40,000)	19,000 (130,000)	70,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 30 LD: 50	4,392,000	20,230,529	70,000	679
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	3		Loving You	1,270,000	01.09.18	2,744,000	1,024,000 (3,030,000)	76,000 (510,000)	88,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 30 LD: 40	5,202,000	20,230,529	88,000	680
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	4		Elvis' Christmas Album	3,850,000	01.09.18	30,548,000	549,000 (1,830,000)	365,000 (2,430,000)	861,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 370 LD: 20	36,173,000	20,230,529	861,000	681
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	5		King Creole	1,050,000	01.09.18	1,913,000	652,000 (2,060,000)	77,000 (510,000)	93,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 40 LD: 60	3,784,000	20,230,529	93,000	682
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	6		A Date with Elvis	460,000	01.09.18	1,126,000	424,000 (571,000)	23,000 (150,000)	57,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 20 LD: 20	2,089,000	20,230,529	57,000	683
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	7		Elvis Is Back!	1,160,000	01.09.18	969,000	372,000 (900,000)	30,000 (200,000)	111,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 50 LD: 50	2,642,000	20,230,529	111,000	684
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	8		G.I. Blues	2,780,000	01.09.18	748,000	722,000 (1,960,000)	48,000 (320,000)	88,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 40 LD: 50	4,386,000	20,230,529	88,000	685
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	9		His Hand in Mine	1,870,000	01.09.18	1,107,000	105,000 (320,000)	6,000 (40,000)	33,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 10	3,121,000	20,230,529	33,000	686
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	10		Something for Everybody	900,000	01.09.18	355,000	87,000 (290,000)	18,000 (120,000)	38,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 20	1,398,000	20,230,529	38,000	687
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	11		Blue Hawaii	4,650,000	01.09.18	23,179,000	963,000 (2,799,000)	387,000 (2,580,000)	1,107,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 500 LD: 680	30,286,000	20,230,529	1,107,000	688
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	12		Pot Luck	870,000	01.09.18	214,000	892,000 (950,000)	29,000 (190,000)	31,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 20	2,035,000	20,230,529	31,000	689
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	13		Girls! Girls! Girls!	1,140,000	01.09.18	1,285,000	945,000 (3,110,000)	75,000 (500,000)	107,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 50 LD: 50	3,552,000	20,230,529	107,000	690
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	14		It Happened at the World's Fair	600,000	01.09.18	155,000	308,000 (1,020,000)	2,000 (10,000)	4,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 0 LD: 0	1,068,000	20,230,529	4,000	691
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	15		Fun in Acapulco	720,000	01.09.18	349,000	485,000 (1,430,000)	20,000 (130,000)	52,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 20 LD: 50	1,625,000	20,230,529	52,000	692
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	16		Kissin' Cousins	590,000	01.09.18	50,000	287,000 (950,000)	1,000 (10,000)	2,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	930,000	20,230,529	2,000	693
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	17		Roustabout	820,000	01.09.18	28,000	0 (0)	2,000 (10,000)	1,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	851,000	20,230,529	1,000	694
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	18		Girl Happy	760,000	01.09.18	80,000	450,000 (1,500,000)	3,000 (20,000)	7,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 0 LD: 0	1,300,000	20,230,529	7,000	695
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	19		Elvis For Everyone!	620,000	01.09.18	195,000	0 (0)	8,000 (50,000)	5,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	828,000	20,230,529	5,000	696
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	20		Harum Scarum	550,000	01.09.18	27,000	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (09/01/18)	N/A	577,000	20,230,529	0	697
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	21		Frankie and Johnny	1,210,000	01.09.18	195,000	225,000 (750,000)	2,000 (10,000)	4,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 0 LD: 0	1,636,000	20,230,529	4,000	698
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	22		Paradise, Hawaiian Style	430,000	01.09.18	33,000	0 (0)	3,000 (20,000)	1,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	467,000	20,230,529	1,000	699
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	23		Spinout	570,000	01.09.18	175,000	129,000 (430,000)	15,000 (100,000)	7,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	896,000	20,230,529	7,000	700
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	24		How Great Thou Art	3,510,000	01.09.18	2,876,000	766,000 (2,520,000)	68,000 (450,000)	94,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 40 LD: 60	7,313,000	20,230,529	94,000	701
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	25		Double Trouble	230,000	01.09.18	121,000	90,000 (300,000)	2,000 (10,000)	1,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	444,000	20,230,529	1,000	702
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	26		Clambake	290,000	01.09.18	2,035,000	311,000 (1,030,000)	20,000 (130,000)	16,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 10	2,671,000	20,230,529	16,000	703
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	27		Speedway	200,000	01.09.18	211,000	90,000 (300,000)	2,000 (10,000)	2,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	505,000	20,230,529	2,000	704
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	28		From Elvis in Memphis	1,310,000	01.09.18	5,722,000	916,000 (3,030,000)	116,000 (770,000)	301,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 130 LD: 170	8,364,000	20,230,529	301,000	705
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	29		Back In Memphis	260,000	01.09.18	886,000	0 (0)	5,000 (30,000)	15,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 10	1,170,000	20,230,529	15,000	706
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	30		That's the Way It Is	2,420,000	01.09.18	1,610,000	857,000 (1,950,000)	64,000 (430,000)	227,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 90 LD: 120	5,178,000	20,230,529	227,000	707
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	31		Elvis Country (I'm 10,000 Years Old)	1,060,000	01.09.18	556,000	292,000 (930,000)	2,000 (10,000)	29,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 20	1,939,000	20,230,529	29,000	708
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	32		Love Letters from Elvis	660,000	01.09.18	260,000	318,000 (730,000)	5,000 (30,000)	16,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 10	1,259,000	20,230,529	16,000	709
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	33		Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas	3,900,000	01.09.18	773,000	108,000 (320,000)	18,000 (120,000)	42,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 0	4,841,000	20,230,529	42,000	710
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	34		Elvis Now	750,000	01.09.18	424,000	171,000 (570,000)	15,000 (100,000)	34,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 10 LD: 20	1,394,000	20,230,529	34,000	711
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	35		He Touched Me	1,400,000	01.09.18	1,404,000	39,000 (110,000)	36,000 (240,000)	51,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 20 LD: 30	2,930,000	20,230,529	51,000	712
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	36		Elvis (1973)	480,000	01.09.18	49,000	2,000 (7,000)	5,000 (30,000)	3,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	539,000	20,230,529	3,000	713
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	37		Raised on Rock / For Ol' Times Sake	400,000	01.09.18	81,000	132,000 (440,000)	8,000 (50,000)	6,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	627,000	20,230,529	6,000	714
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	38		Good Times	350,000	01.09.18	555,000	402,000 (1,340,000)	27,000 (180,000)	68,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 30 LD: 80	1,402,000	20,230,529	68,000	715
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	39		Promised Land	620,000	01.09.18	405,000	383,000 (670,000)	9,000 (60,000)	63,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 30 LD: 60	1,480,000	20,230,529	63,000	716
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	40		Today	540,000	01.09.18	212,000	201,000 (670,000)	20,000 (130,000)	54,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 20 LD: 40	1,027,000	20,230,529	54,000	717
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	41		From Elvis Presley Boulevard, Memphis, Tennessee	880,000	01.09.18	221,000	114,000 (380,000)	21,000 (140,000)	49,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 20 LD: 50	1,285,000	20,230,529	49,000	718
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	42		Moody Blue	3,820,000	01.09.18	735,000	1,156,000 (3,830,000)	46,000 (310,000)	166,000 (05/29/23)	Av.: 80 LD: 130	5,923,000	20,230,529	166,000	719
43ZHCT0cAZBISjO8DG9PnE	43		Orphan	0	01.09.18	119,789,000	25,616,000 (73,638,000)	3,144,000 (20,960,000)	1,268,000 (09/01/18)	N/A	149,817,000	20,230,529	1,268,000	1,659

As a reminder:

• Studio Album: sales of the original album
• Other Releases: sales of compilations generated thanks to the album
• Physical Singles: sales of physical singles from the album (ratio 3/10)
• Download Singles: sales of digital singles from the album (ratio 1,5/10)
• Streaming: equivalent album sales of all the album tracks (ratio 1/1500 for Audio stream and 1/6750 for Video stream)

See where the artist ranks among remaining singers

Conclusions

The career of Presley wasn’t always linear. Indeed, he had had various flops. Some of his albums like Harum Scarum and Elvis (from 1973) barely reach half a million units factoring in all formats. We are speaking about an artist that released 42 albums over 22 years and still issued well over half of his successful singles with orphan songs.

That’s why looking at one figure only for him is such an error. The volume of his sales speaks. Think about it that way: how many artists topped 1 million equivalent album sales with 31 LPs and still moved almost 150 million units with orphan songs?

Among his top albums there is Elvis, Loving You, G.I. Blues, That’s the Way It Is, Elvis sings The Wonderful World of Christmas, and Moody Blue, all of which fall into the 4 to 6 million ballpark. On his personal top 5 feature Elvis Presley, How Great Thou Art and From Elvis in Memphis at over 7 million a piece.

As successful as they have been these albums can’t compete with the top 2. Elvis’ Christmas Album and Blue Hawaii, each in a very different category, accumulated insane sales through the years and various releases. Their value has been strong enough to trigger sales of 35,5 million and 29,4 million equivalent album sales, respectively.

Then comes the orphan folder. It closes just a shy of 150 million. Basically, his orphan songs alone moved more equivalent album sales than entire discographies of artists as huge as Phil Collins and Billy Joel.

The final total for the King comes at 314,0 million EAS up to date. While the Beatles still quite a lot ahead at 405,7 million, a strong revival as the one from 2002 could possibly shot him ahead of Michael Jackson who’s on 323,7 million. These trio of artists are on a category of their own since the fourth highest ever, Madonna, is much lower at 241,1 million.

To go deeper…

Thanks to our new ASR (Artist Success Rating) concept, we know that his sales represent 48,12 million times the purchase of her full catalog. It’s the equivalent of 48,12 million people buying an average of 6,53 albums from him. It falls perfectly in line with our article about the structure of his discography that pointed out that there are 6 different Elvis Presleys.

Both indicators of 48,12 million sales of his entire catalog spread over the equivalent of 314,0 million imply an ASR of 696. That makes him the fourth most successful artist of all-time behind aforementioned Michael Jackson (1000) and the Beatles (915), but also Queen (723). Hard fans and casual buyers of all these artists need less purchases to be satisfied than Presley‘s. That’s why their ASR is higher in comparison to their cumulative EAS.

As usual, feel free to comment and / or ask a question!

Sources: IFPI, Spotify, YouTube, Discogs, Chartmasters.org, RCA, Sony, Pickwick, Camden, Memphis Recording Service, Billboard, Elvisoncd, Biwa, elvisnews, worldwideelvis, elvispresleyftd, elvispresleyshop, EIN, BuzzAngle, Time-Life, Kworb, Hanboo, Earthslayer, Ernst Jorgensen, Michael Omansky, Agora SA, RIAA, Soundscan, OCC, BPI, Not Now Music, RPM, SNEP, Oricon, RIAJ, PROMUSICAE, AFP, FIMI, NVPI, IRMA, ARIA, RIANZ, Music Week, Amprofon, MercadoLivre, ABPD, CAPIF, CRIA, IFOP, GFK, IFPI (DE, DK, NO, AT, FI, SW), Sverigetopplistan, LA Times, Reuters, Le Monde, Nashville Post.

Special thanks to Anthony Blanchard and Hernan Lopez for their massive contribution.